Peter BaberReviews Editor

This October's Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC should be a real treasure trove for caravanners, whether you're strapped for cash or going for luxury

There's a free blow-up awning and starter pack with every new Antarès, and special offers on the new Alarias

Go to the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC Birmingham next week, and you can be sure of seeing completely new vans from both ends of the market.

Marquis Leisure will be displaying its latest new arrivals – and they're something a bit different!

The dealer is bringing a range of six Antarès entry-level caravans from French manufacturer Caravelair, that have been specially adapted for the UK market.

All six vans, which include a two-berth, a three-berth, two four-berths and two six-berths, cost less than £15,000. The smallest, the two-berth Caravelair Antarès 335, can be yours for just £11,995.

With MiROs as low as 750kg, the Antarès range is also designed so that you should be able to pull one without necessarily having to upgrade your tow car.

And in a special offer for the NEC show, the dealership network will be giving away a blow-up awning and a starter pack for free with every new purchase made.

What else?

Lunar Caravans will also be using the show to display its new Alaria range. Although with prices starting at £32,499 excluding delivery, these three twin-axle tourers are likely to be of interest to a rather different buyer from those looking for an Antarès. Layouts across the range include two island bed designs and one with fixed twin single beds.

The Lunar Alaria line-up is designed to meet the needs of those who use seasonal pitches, as well as those who go touring. With this in mind, all models feature the same L-shaped front lounge with domestic-standard upholstery and a footstool, as well as a 21-inch Avtex TV fitted as standard to the right of the door. They also come with an E&P self-levelling system as standard, too, and are pre-wired for a motor mover.

Lunar says it will be running special show offers for the range, although the company has not disclosed what this offer will be.

Anyone looking for something a little bit more continental should also make a beeline to see the StarClass range on the Knaus stand. Three models will be on display, the two-berth 480, the four-berth 550 and the 690. The 480 and 550 are both single-axle models with end washrooms. The Knaus StarClass 690, however, is a mighty twin-axle with an end washroom and a transverse island bed.

Continental style will also be very much in evidence on the Adria stand. Visit the Slovenian manufacturer to see the new Alpina range, as well as the 2017 Altea portfolio featuring new panoramic windows.

Keeping up the interest on the home front is Bailey, with two new models in its upmarket Unicorn range. There's also Coachman with its new five-berth Vision 530.

On the Elddis stand you can find the two new 8ft-wide models in the Avanté range, the 840 and the 866, which we have already loved and written about in Practical Caravan.

Among the attractions on the Swift stand will be the 2017 range of Sprite caravans. These now come with an all-GRP bodyshell for extra strength, and offer fantastic value for money – or so the judges at Practical Caravan's Tourer of the Year Awards 2017 thought.

There are also live product launches every day of the show from Swift, Lunar and Adria, among others.